Rusty Rudders Tap House — Restaurant in Savannah

Dear Community Members,

This is responding to the owner below, their lying. Of course you jump to miss behaving outside, and we simply were not. My ID was a real ID. I’m grown man, 32 years old. It was very clear that my ID was real. I presented the bouncer with it and also had enough one. You should prioritize taking accountability and training your staff. I’ve reported this to multiple agencies, and I hope the investigation finds that you all are racist. By the way, other people have left reviews about YOUR BAR being Racist prior to US! DO BETTTER! Racism is an illness.

I am compelled to share a deeply troubling experience my friends and I had at Rusty Rudders Tap House, located at 303 W River St, Savannah, GA 31401, on February 7, 2025. As touring actors, we looked forward to enjoying Savannah’s hospitality but were instead met with blatant racism and hostility at this establishment.

Upon arrival, I presented my valid, state-issued ID to the bouncer—a heavyset white man—who immediately claimed it was fake and demanded additional identification. Despite my ID being unquestionably legitimate, he refused to provide any explanation for denying us entry. Our group consisted of myself, a Black man, and three other people of color. The bouncer’s dismissive attitude and refusal to engage in a reasonable discussion strongly suggested racial bias.

The situation escalated when my friend, a woman in her mid-20s, politely questioned the bouncer’s actions. He became verbally aggressive, threatening her with physical harm and shouting, “This is a dictatorship, not a democracy.” His aggressive demeanor was both unprofessional and intimidating.

Two other staff members—a slim white man and another heavyset Black man—joined him, further gaslighting us and upholding the denial of entry without any valid reason. Throughout this encounter, we remained sober, calm, and simply sought clarification. Instead of addressing our concerns, the staff’s collective behavior was confrontational and discriminatory.

Disturbingly, our experience aligns with other reports of racist conduct at Rusty Rudders Tap House. A review on TripAdvisor recounts a similar incident: “No man should be kicked out of a bar because of the color of his skin. Then when another guy in our party confronted him about it, and asked him for his card he …” 

It’s disheartening that such discriminatory practices persist. The manager’s dismissive suggestion that we patronize other bars in the area, stating, “You can go to the other bars around here, but not this one,” further underscores the establishment’s exclusionary stance.

I urge Black individuals and allies to avoid Rusty Rudders Tap House. Such behavior is unacceptable, and I am committed to reporting this incident to all relevant outlets. The bouncer’s proclamation of “a dictatorship, not a democracy” was not only politically charged but also indicative of a deliberate intent to demean and exclude.

Let this serve as a warning: Rusty Rudders Tap House does not welcome people of color. Stand against racism and choose establishments that respect and value all...

This establishment has a long-standing reputation for discriminatory practices, and I am pleased to see that people are holding it accountable across multiple platforms. Last night, I observed the bouncer interacting with several patrons in a highly disrespectful manner. Earlier that evening, I also noticed a large group of white college students being admitted without issue.

This venue is widely regarded by Black locals as unwelcoming, and the presence of Black staff does not negate the experiences of racial bias that many have reported. If you are a person of color, I strongly advise against visiting this establishment.

During my visit, I witnessed a young man being accused of using a fake ID. After the incident, I spoke with his group, who were visibly upset by the bouncer’s handling of the situation. The ID WAS REAL AS REAL CAN BE - it was a legal government ID. THE guy even had his passport. The bouncer wouldn’t even engage with them. The other manager came out and he did nothing. They told them to go to another bar!

The bouncer even went so far as to yell, “This is a dictatorship,”—a bizarre and unsettling response. I personally heard and recorded this exchange and will be forwarding the footage to the appropriate agency handling the complaint. I also provided my contact information to the affected individuals and offered to attest on their behalf.

Racism in any form is unacceptable, and this establishment must take accountability rather than dismiss legitimate concerns, as they have done in their responses to similar complaints. I urge others to read the numerous reviews detailing discriminatory behavior and to hold this business responsible for...

My husband and I are visiting Savannah for the first time. Our first interaction was pleasant. We were looking for a speakeasy for a show we had tickets to and the bouncer pointed us into the right direction. We found the speakeasy and had a wonderful time at the show.

After the show, we decided to go back to this bar because it seemed really fun. My husband showed his ID. The bouncer seemed at first to make small talk about our city, which is outside ATL in Gwinnett county. When asked about our city, I was the one that said it was near ATL. He said he was not going to accept our IDs because ATL is over three hours away and that this (Savannah) is in Gwinnett county. That is not true. We tried to reason with him and even show a map of the counties because we were confused and knew this to be incorrect. He acted incorrigible and said he had the right to deny entry to anyone he wanted and we were not allowed to speak to anyone else at this bar. No one should ever be denied entry just because.

My husband and I still ended up having a good night all in all and had no trouble at the next place we went to. The bouncer there really needs an ego check and should learn to have a real conversation to treat...